Cut-off mechanism



Jan. 11, 1938. R. 1.. WILCOX ET AL CUT-OFF MECHANI SM Filed April 24, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 N HM lNVENTO R5 Elm/420 lz-vrae M1 COX f/[EBERT Z. //0Y7" Jan. 11, 1938. R. WILCOX ET AL CUT-OFF MECHANISM Filed April 24, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 COX Jan. 11, 1938. R w ox ET AL 2,105,386

CUT-OFF MECHANI SM Filed April 24, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. ll, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE terbury, Conn, Farrel Foundry terbury, Conn,

42 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in cut-off mechanism, particularly to that type of such mechanism as is associated with upsetting machines or the like, but adapted for use equally as well with machines for other purposes.

It is the object of this invention, among other things, to provide a cut-off mechanism of the character indicated, that will operate at high speeds, wherein the desired motions are relatively short, the cutter bar while under labor, during the cut-off operation, will be actuated by parts that are in their strongest and most powerful relative positions, and wherein the feed of wire will be automatically discontinued, if perchance the cutter should be prevented from normally functioning by a foreign object or misplaced part or the like.

To these, and other ends, the invention consists of the cut-off mechanism having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures;

Figure l is a fragmentary plan view of a header, upsetting machine or the like, having this improved cut-ofi mechanism;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is an end elevation; and

Figures 4 to 7, inclusive, are views illustrating some of the relative positions of the toggle mechanism and associated parts.

The header illustrated,. which is of the conventional type, comprises in part a body H], a main drive shaft It journaled therein, a drive wheel 20 on the shaft, and feed rolls 12, which are driven through a feed shaft I3 actuated in a well known manner through a make and break mechanism. This latter mechanism is controlled manually in part by the clutch ring l4, which is moved axially on the shaft l3 through the lever l5, actuated in part through the hand lever l6 and link ll. Thus, through manipulation of the lever It, the motion of the feed shaft l3 and feed rolls I2 is controlled.

The mechanism above described constitutes no part of this present invention and therefore is not further described in detail herein.

On the main shaft H is fixed the cut-off cam It and the follower cam l9. Fixed in the body au are the studs 2i which are joined at their outer ends by the link 22. Journaled on these assignors to The Waterbury and Machine Company, We.- a corporation of Connecticut Application April 24,

1936, Serial No. 76,198

studs are the rock arms 23 and 25, which are joined at their lower ends by a spring rod 25 having a spring 26 thereon, which exerts its pressure to draw the lower ends of these arms together. A cam roll 21 on the arm 23 rides against the face of the cut-off cam I8, and a cam roll 28 on the rock arm 26 rides against the, face of the follower cam IS.

The cutter bar 29 is movably mounted within the body It! and has a cut-off knife 30 at its inner end. Secured in a fixed position is a bracket 62, closed at its outer end by a cap 32, on the side by the cap 3!, and within which the head 33 of the cutter bar is slidably supported.

Mounted on a stud 36 is a rock lever 31, which is connected by a pin 38 with a link 35, journaled in the head 33 by a pin 35. Movement of the rock lever 31 about its pivot mounting imparts a reciprocating movement to the cutter bar 29 through the link connection 35.

Within the bracket 62 is the slide 39 which is connected with the rock lever 31 by the link 430, that has a pivotal connection with the slide at one end, and to the rock lever at the other end. Connected with the slide 39 by the pin it, and to each other by the pin 32, are the toggle links 13 and M. These links are held against disengagement from each other by the blocks 45, and on the pin 42 between these blocks is the cam roll 46, which rides during its travel against the face of a cam 61 secured to the cap 62.

Journaled on the same stud as the cam roll 21 is a yoke member 38, which is connected with the toggle link 64 by the turnbuckle 49, having locking nuts 50 thereon, and whereby their position toward and away from each other may be varied. In the bracket 3i is a trip slide having a slide plate 52 upon one end thereof and on which the blocks 45 slide during their movement.

A rock lever 53 is journaled on a fixed stud 5'3, one arm 55 of which projects into an opening in the trip slide 5|, substantially as shown in Figure 2, so that movement of the latter will actuate the lever. Another lever 56 is journaled on a stud in a fixed part, between one arm of which and the lever 53 is a rod 51, upon which is a spring 58. The tension of the spring holds the lever 53 in substantially the position shown in Figure 2.

On the lower end of the lever i5 is an extension arm 6| which is connected with the lever 55 by the link 59.

When the lever 53 is moved by the slide 5t and the lower end thereof moves to the left in Fig ure 2 the make and break mechanism, driving through the lever 56, link I! and extension arm 6|, so as to disconnect the shaft, thus stopping the feed rolls and discontinuing the feed.

In operation the cutter bar 211s moved inwardly so that the knife 30 passes across the face of the die block 60 by the cut off cam ll through the toggles and turnbuckle mechanism therebetween, slide 39, rock lever 31 and connecting mechanism. and moved in the opposite direction by the action of the follower cam I 9. I

By the mechanism herein shown for imparting movement to the cutter bar by the cut-off cam and'cam follower, an outside cam is utilized instead of cams of larger diameter with cam grooves therein. When the cutter bar is under labor, that is, when the knife is severing a piece of wire from a wire length, the toggles are in substantially the position shown in Figure 2, that is, upon a dead center. Thus, the parts are in their strongest relative positions and a.

powerful pressure is applied to the knifethrough the cutter bar.

Variations in they position of the cut-off knife 30 are obtained by manipulation of the turnbuckle 49. The extent of movement of the lever 31 and slide 39 are relatively short and therefore may be actuated at a very high speed as distinguished from the present type of reciprocating cam slide with the cutter bar actuated from a roll in the cam groove therein.

In Figure 4 the toggle mechanism and associated parts are shown in a position at substantially the starting point of the cut-ofl' when the roll 46 is in contact with the substantially straight face 63 of the cam 41 and all of the parts are on a. substantially dead center. I

In Figure 5 the parts are shown in substantially the relative position occupied by them after the cut-off operation is completed. The cam roll 46 by engagement with the cam face 64 of the cam 4'! has been moved downwardly thereby until it is in substantial contact with the straight face 65 of the cam. The toggles have thus been forced off a dead center, the labor on the cutter bar and associated parts having been completed.

In Figure 6 the several parts are in the relative positions occupied by them while the cutter bar is in its forward position and the cam roll 46 from the position shown in Figure 5 has been in contact with the substantially straight face of the cam.

In Figure 7 the toggles and associated parts are shown in the relative position occupied by them when the normal movement of the cutter bar is interfered with by an obstruction or the like. Such interference will prevent movement of the cutter bar and this holds all ofgthe parts associated therewith, including the slide 39, from movement, but the toggle 44 continues its movement. This results in the toggles being broken or forced downwardly, substantially as shown in Figure 7. While passing to this broken down position the blocks 45 push the trip slide downwardly and shut off the feed of the wire in the manner above described. As soon as the obstruction is removed and the cutter bar begins to function normally, the toggles are restored to their normal positions and the operations are continued as above.

Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims, changes and modifications in the invention, aside from those herein suggested may be made.

. r 9,106,886 the in. through the feed shaft n, is actuated .What is claimed is: r

1. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto. comprising in part a rock member; 'a link connection between the rock member and cutter bar; means, comprising in part toggle mechanism for actuating the rock member; and means for controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechanism on and off the center thereof.

2. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto; and means, as a fixed cam or the like, for controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechanism on and off the center thereof.

3. In'mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto; and means, as a fixed cam or the like, for controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechanism on and off the center thereof whereby such position may be caused to vary during the stroke of the toggle mechanism.

4. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto; and means, as a fixed cam or the like. for controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechsanism on and off the center thereof and whereby the toggle mechanism may be moved of)? center after the completion of that portion of the movement of the cutter bar when under labor.

5. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto; and means, as a fixed cam or the like, for controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechanism on'and off the center thereof and whereby the toggle mechanism may be moved off center after the completion of that portion of the movement of the cutter bar when under labor and thereafter travel in such off center position.

6. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto; and means operative during each movement of the cutter bar in one direction for positively controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechanism on and off the center thereof, comprising in part a member movable with the toggle mechanism and adjacent to the joint thereof and a fixed element against which said member contacts during its movement.

7. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto; and means for controlling the position of the elements of the toggle mechanism on and off the center thereof, comprising in part a member movable with the toggle mechanism and adjacent to the joint thereof and a fixed element having plural substantially straight faces, and a cam face at an angle thereto, and against which said last mentioned member contacts during its movement.

movement of the cutter 8. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto substantially parallel with the shaft, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto, the toggle mechanism being upon dead center during that portion of the movement of the cutter bar when under labor and-off center during another portion of such movement.

9. In mechanism of the character described; a shaft; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto substantially parallel with the shaft, comprising in part a rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto, the toggle mechanism being upondead center during that portion of the movement of the cutter bar when under labor; and means for thereafter and during the same movement forcing said toggle mechanism ofi center.

10. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement part a rock member and part a cam;

said carrier and toggle mechanism, during the labor portion of the movement of the cutter bar, the center of the toggle mechanism and said cam being in substantially a straight line.

11. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part a. rock member and toggle mechanism for imparting movement thereto, comprising in part companion cams; a carrier member for each cam having a roll thereon in contact therewith, said carrier member having fixed centers drawing the same toward each other; a member between one of said carriers and the toggle mechanism; and means for varying the length of the latter member.

12. In mechanism of the character described; means for feeding a wire; a cutter bar, into the path of movement of which the Wire is fed; means for imparting movement to the cutter bar; and means, the action of which is initiated by the cutter bar to stop the feed of wire if the bar is interfered with by abnormal conditions.

13. In mechanism of the character described; means for feeding Wire; a cutter bar, into the path of movement of which the wire is fed; means for imparting movement to the cutter bar; and means, the action of which is initiated by the cutter bar, to stop the feed of wire if the movement of the cutter bar is interfered with by abnormal conditions, comprising in part a member actuated by the means for moving the cutter bar, and a connection therebetween and the wire feeding means.

14. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, including toggle mechanism; means for feeding wire into the path of movement of the cutter bar; a slide or the like; a member associated with the toggle mechanism and movable therewith, through which the slide is actuated when the toggle mechanism assumes one of its positions; and a connection between the slide and wire feeding means whereby when the slide is in one of its positions the feed of said wire will be discontinued.

15. In mechanism of the character described; means for feeding wire; a cutter bar into the 8 path of movement gle actuated mechanism for imparting movement to the cutter bar; slide means controlled thereby to stop the feed of wire if the movement of the cutter bar is interfered with by abnormal conditions, the movement of said slide means being controlled in part by said toggle mechanism.

16. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for feeding wire into the path of movement thereof; means for imparting movement to the cutter bar, including in part toggle mechanism, so arranged that said toggle mechanism will be broken if the movement of the cutter bar is interfered with by abnormal conditions; and means actuated through the toggle mechanism while the same is moving to its broken down position for discontinuing the feed of wire into the path of the cutter bar.

17. In mechanism of the character described; means for feeding wire; manually actuated means to in part control such feed; a cutter bar, into the path of movement of which wire is fed; means for actuating the cutter bar, so arranged that such movement may be discontinued if interfered with by abnormal conditions.

18. In mechanism of the character described; means for feeding wire; manually actuated means to in part control such feed; a cutter bar, into the path of movement of which wire is fed;

19. In mechanism of the character described; means for feeding wire; a cutter bar into the path of movement of which wire is fed; means for imparting movement to the cutter bar, so arranged that such means will continue its movement, but in a different path, if normal movement of the cutter bar is interfered with.

20. In mechanism of the character described;

rotation of the rock member.

21. In mechanism of the character described; a cutter bar; means for imparting movement thereto, including toggle mechanism; means for feeding wire into the path of movement of the cutter bar; stop mechanism which is set in motion and discontinues the feed of wire if the movement of the cutter bar is interfered with by abnormal conditions.

22. In mechanism of the character described, an actuating shaft, a reciprocating cutter bar carrying a cutter, means actuated by the shaft for imparting movement to the cutter bar in a path substantially parallel to said shaft, comprising in part a rock member, a link connection between the rockmember and cutter bar, and a toggle member disposed between the shaft and rock member, which will break and relieve the pressure upon the cutter bar when its normal movement is interfered with by an abnormality. 23. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding mechanism, a movable cutter for the stock, a rocker member, means conof which the wire is fed; togiii necting said cutter and rocker member, an actuating shaft, a toggle member connecting said actuating shaft and rocker member for moving the cutter across the path of movement of the stock, and positive means for breaking the toggle connection to relieve the operating pressure of the cutter when the latter has completed its stock severing movement.

24. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding mechanism, a movable cutter for the stock, a rocker member, means connecting said cutter and rocker member, an actuating shaft, a toggle member connecting said actuating shaft and rocker, for moving the cutter across the path of movement of the stock, and cam means disposed in the path of movement of the toggle member for breaking the latter upon completion of the cutting stroke of the cutter.

25. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding mechanism, a movable cutter for the stock, a rocker member, means connecting said cutter and rocker member, an actuating shaft, a toggle member connecting said actuating shaft and rocker, for moving the cutter across the path of movement of the stock, means for breaking the toggle connection to relieve the pressure upon the cutter after the latter has completed its operating stroke, and means in the path of said toggle connection for stopping the feeding of stock if and when the normal movement of the cutter is interfered with by an abnormality.

26. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding means, a cutter member movable across the path of movement of said stock, an operating shaft, a link and toggle connection between the shaft and cutter member for actuating the latter, and means adjacent the toggle connection for breaking the latter upon completion of the cutting stroke of the cutter member, whereby to relieve pressure upon the link and toggle connection.

27. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding means, a cutter member movable across the path of movement of the stock, an operating shaft, a link and toggle connection between the shaft and cutter member for actuating the latter, and slidable means adjacent the toggle connection for actuation by the latter to stop the feeding of stock when the cutter meets an obstruction other than the material being operated upon.

23. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a cutter bar carrying a cutter, means for imparting movement thereto from the shaft, comprising in part a rock member adjacent to the cutter bar, a link connection between the rock member and cutter bar, a toggle device, a link connection between the toggle device and the rock member and intermediate mechanism between the toggle device and shaft, whereby to actuate said cutter from said shaft.

29. In mechanism of the character described,

including stock feeding mechanism, a movable cutter for the stock, a rocker member, means connecting said cutter and rocker member, an actuating shaft, and a toggle member between said actuating shaft and rocker member for moving the cutter across the path of movement of the stock, the arrangement of said shaft and the path of the toggle member being such that an extension of a straight line passing through the center of said parts and their pivot mountings, when the movable cutter is under labor, will intersect the axis of said shaft.

30. In mechanism of the'character described, a movable cutter, an actuating shaft, means between the cutter and actuating shaft for imparting movement to said cutter; said means comprising in part toggle mechanism, and means for controlling the relative position of the parts of the toggle mechanism, whereby the same travel in plural substantially straight defined paths when said parts are in diiferent relative positions.

31. In mechanism of the character described, a movable cutter, an actuating shaft, means between the cutter and actuating shaft for imparting movement to said cutter, said means comprising in part toggle mechanism, means for controlling the relative position of the parts of the toggle mechanism, whereby the same travel in plural substantially straight defined paths when said parts are in difierent relative positions, and means for moving the said parts from one to another of said positions.

32. In mechanism of the character described, a movable cutter, an actuating shaft, means between the cutter and actuating shaft for imparting movement to said cutter, said means comprising in part toggle mechanism, and cam means in the path of movement of the toggle member, whereby to control the relative movement of the parts thereof, such relative movement being in plural substantially straight defined paths with an intermediate path therebetween and at an I angle to both.

33. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding mechanism, a movable cutter for the stock, an actuating shaft, toggle means for actuating the cutter from the shaft, whereby the cutter moves across the path of movement of the stock, and means for varying the relative position of the toggle mechanism, whereby the same will move in a substantially straight path while the cutter is under labor and in a substantially straight but different path after such labor is completed.

34. In mechanism of the character described, a movable cutter, an actuating shaft, means between the cutter and actuating shaft for imparting movement to said cutter, said means comprising in part toggle mechanism, and cam means in'the path of movement of parts of the toggle mechanism controlling in part the relative movement thereof, said cam means having plural substantially straight faces united by an intermediate angular face,

35. In mechanism of the character described, a mm, a slide, toggle mechanism, comprising toggle links, a pin or the like connecting the links, a roll or the like on the pin which contacts with said cam, and a slide block on the pin for applying pressure to said slide when the toggle links are in one of their relative positions.

36. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding means, a cutter member movable across the path of movement of the stock, an operating shaft, a link and toggle connection between the shaft and cutter member for actuating the latter, a cam for moving the toggle links relative to each other, and a slide having an operative connection with the stock feeding means and actuated through said toggle mechanism when the latter are moved relative to each other and by means other than said cam.

37. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding means, a cutter member movable across the path of movement of the stock, an operating shaft, a link and toggle connection between the'shaft and cutter member for actuating the latter, a cam for moving the toggle links relative to each other, a slide, lever means associated with the feed mechanism, and a trip lever between the slideand lever means for imparting movement to the latter from the former.

38. In mechanism of the character described, including stock feeding means, a cutter member movable across the path of movement of the stock, an operating shaft, a link and toggle connection between the shaft and cutter member for actuating the latter, a cam for moving the toggle links relative to each other, and intermediate mechanism between the stock feeding mechanism and the toggle mechanism, whereby the latter will actuate the former to stop the feeding of stock when parts of the toggle mechanism are moved relatively to each other on an occurrence of an abnormality in the action of the cutter.

39. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a cutter bar carrying a cutter, means for imparting movement thereto from the shaft, comprising in part cam means on the shaft, rock members actuated from the cam means, means for drawing the rock members toward each other, and a link and toggle connection between the cutter bar and rock members.

40. In mechanism of the character described, a shaft, a cutter bar carrying a cutter, means for imparting movement thereto from the shaft,

comprising in part cam means on the shaft, rock members actuated from the cam means, a cam roll on each'rock member, means for drawing the rock members toward'each other, whereby to maintain the said rolls in contact with said cam, and a link and toggle connection between the cutter bar and rock members.

41. In mechanism of the character described, a movable cutter, an actuating shaft, means between the cutter and actuating shaft for imparting movement to said cutter, said means comprising in part toggle mechanism, a rigid part upon one side of the toggle mechanism? controlling in part the action thereof, and yielding means upon the opposite side of the toggle mechanism that will permit the breaking thereof.

42. In mechanism of the character described. including stock feeding means, a cutter member movable across the path of movement of the stock, an operating shaft, toggle mechanism between the shaft and cutter member, and means for stopping the feed of said stock, the arrangement of the parts of such means being such that the toggle mechanism when moved in one direction will actuate the cutter member and in another direction will actuate the means for stopping the feed of stock.

RICHARD LESTER WILCOX. HERBERT L. HOYT. 

